“Yes, I know. Is he good-looking?” Jules asked, picking her clothes up off the floor. Whether her sister knew it or not, her defensive tone was telling on her.
“Yes, he is good-looking. I’ll give him that.”
Jules laughed out loud. “And that’s about all you’ll give him. Jonathan ruined you for any other man.”
Shana frowned at the mention of her ex-boyfriend. “He did not ruin me.”
“Then why haven’t you dated anyone seriously since then? Makes me think you’re pining away for him.”
“You’re wrong. I want to focus on my business. Men aren’t a necessity for me like they are for some women. And I don’t recall the last time you went out on a date.”
“I went out with James last month, remember?”
“I mean a serious date and not one of your stakeouts, Jules. You were trying to bust a cheating husband.” Shana glanced up and waved as Joyce headed for the door. At least she made sure her workers went home at a decent time.
“And it was successful, I might add,” Jules said, grinning, sounding proud of herself. “And that’s probably one reason I don’t take men seriously. Most of my cases are about cheating husbands, which in my book makes a statement. Unless his name is Ben Bradford, no man is to be trusted.”
Jules headed for the bathroom with discarded clothes tucked under her arm. “I need to shower now. Don’t expect me back in Virginia for another two weeks. In the meantime, keep an eye on Dad and the veggie lady.”
* * *
Jace glanced at his watch, noticing it was nine o’clock already. He pushed the documents he’d been reading aside and stood to stretch his body. The office had closed hours ago, yet he was still here, reading as much information as he could. This was sort of like cramming for one of his law exams.
Caden and Dalton had moved into their offices down the hall and at six had quickly headed out for the bar and grill down the street. They had invited Jace to join them, but he had declined. He had received an email from Shana, asking that specific documents be available for her to review tomorrow, and he figured he needed to go over those documents, as well.
He glanced around the office that had once belonged to his grandfather. He’d decided not to change a thing for now, although the green drapes with the matching carpeting didn’t do anything for him. Jace smiled, recalling that green had always been Richard Granger’s favorite color, in all shades.
They would be visiting their father next weekend, and Jace was looking forward to it. Caden would leave to wrap up a few events he’d scheduled and would return in two weeks. Jace was grateful Dalton hadn’t made some excuse to fly to London and wondered if that receptionist downstairs had anything to do with it.
Jace was about to head back over to his desk and read the last of the documents when his phone rang. It was a number he didn’t recognize. “Hello?”
“You could have at least called to let me know your grandfather had passed.”
Jace drew in a deep breath. It was his ex-wife, Eve. “Why would I have bothered? It’s not like the two of you were close. And if you’re calling to see whether you were left in his will, you weren’t.”
“That’s cold, Jace.”
“Goes with the territory, since I recall your calling me a cold bastard the day you were served with divorce papers.”
As if she hadn’t heard his words, she said, “I hear you’re in charge of the place now that he’s gone. I’m happy, since that’s all I wanted for you.”
“That’s what you wanted for yourself, Eve. Let’s get that straight. You were never satisfied with the money I was making as an attorney when you figured I could be making millions working alongside my grandfather. That’s the truth, and you know it.” He dropped down in his chair and added, “And then there was the issue of your not getting your hands on my trust fund. That really teed you off.”
He couldn’t help but smile. She figured she had it all worked out just how much of his trust she would milk out of him. But thanks to his grandfather, things hadn’t worked out that way for her, which is why she couldn’t stand the old man.
“Why do you keep trying to paint me as a gold digger, Jace? When we married, I had just as much money as you.”
“The underlying word is had. By the time we divorced, you didn’t have a penny. You had spent all of yours and were trying to run through mine, as well.”
“I like nice things.”
“No, you like expensive things and then choose not to work to pay for them.”
“I was the wife of a Granger. There was no reason for me to work. Had I given in and stayed pregnant like you wanted, then everything would have been fine. Why can’t you understand that although you wanted a baby, I didn’t? I wasn’t ready, Jace. I was still—”
“Having too good a time to settle down and become a mother, I know,” he interrupted. “But was that any reason to have an abortion behind my back?” he asked in anger. It pained him every time he thought about it. And the sad thing about it was that she never planned to tell him. All the arrangements had been made while he was out of town. When he had returned unexpectedly, he had found out the truth.
“Eve, let’s end this call while we can remain civil. Goodbye, and do me a favor and delete my number.”
She clicked off the phone. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d hung up on him, but if she did what he’d said and deleted his number, then it would definitely be the last.
He had picked up another report when his cell phone rang again. He thought it was Eve calling his bluff by calling him back when he noted the call was from Shana Bradford. “Yes, Shana?”
Shana took a deep breath, thinking there was that sexy voice again. She hated admitting it, but she liked the sound of her name on his lips. “I figured you would still be at the office. Chocolate is known to boost your energy level, and I noticed that your slice of cake at lunch was a lot bigger than mine.”
She heard his rich, masculine laugh and thought it was sexy, too.
“You noticed, huh?”
“Yes.” She smiled, recalling how he’d devoured the entire slice. “I won’t keep you, but I was wondering if I need to bring my own computer or if you’ve got one there for me?”
Jace lifted a brow. “Some companies actually make you bring your own computer?”
“Yes, and it’s no big deal if that’s the case. I just like knowing beforehand.”
Jace leaned back in his chair, suddenly feeling calm and relaxed. Both feelings were much appreciated after his phone call with Eve. “Well, that’s not the case. In fact, I took charge of things myself.”
And he had. He had decided to give her the office next to his, the one that had a connecting door to his grandfather’s and his father’s offices. Since it was in the middle of both offices, it had served as a private meeting room for the two men. It was roomy and large enough for Shana’s temporary office and had a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountains outside the window.
The maintenance department had already removed the huge conference table and replaced it with a desk, a couple of file cabinets, a bookcase and other accessories. His grandfather’s secretary, who was officially now Jace’s secretary, had gotten the office organized with supplies, including the latest computer. The receptionist from downstairs had assisted his secretary, which had probably made Dalton’s day. Fortunately, it was a task that hadn’t taken long to complete.
“I appreciate it and intend to be there first thing in the morning—around eight.”
“All right, and you have a spot reserved in the executive parking lot.”
“My-oh-my, don’t I feel special?”
She had a nice phone voice. Silky-sounding. He had thought that yesterday and was thinking it again today. “If a parking space does that, then wait until dress-down Friday. I understand that’s a big event here. They like to get out of their dresses and suits and go straight to the jeans.”
“Doesn’t take much to satisfy some people,” she said.
He wondered what it would take to satisfy her...or whether she was one of those women like Eve who couldn’t be satisfied. Nothing for her was ever enough.
“I almost forgot to mention something, Jace.”
“What?”
“I have my own computer expert, and I prefer using one of my own networks. So if it’s okay, he’ll be there tomorrow to put me on a different computer system than you have at Granger. It will be best for security for the work I intend to do there.”
“Okay, I don’t have a problem with that. I’ll let my technicians know.”
“No, I prefer no one knows but you and I. Bruce will make it seem like I’m still using the company’s server, but I won’t be.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I’ll be seeing you in the morning, Jace.”
“Sleep well.”
“I will.”
Jace hung up the phone. He’d heard her fighting back a yawn a few times during their conversation and wondered if, like him, she was still at the office. As he picked up the file he’d been about to read earlier, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of seeing her again tomorrow.
* * *
A few hours later, Shana slid into her jacket ready to leave her office, confident that she was prepared for her first day at Granger Aeronautics. She found everything about it fascinating, even the fact that it was losing its place as one of the top leaders in aerospace engineering. Why? What she’d read was only out there for public consumption, and she couldn’t wait to delve into the real stuff.... Present clients. Past clients. Business models. PR focus. Product designs. Returns on workforce investments...
All those things made up the success or failure of any company, and she intended to see if any ratio of them might be hurting Granger. She appreciated the fact that, although she might have kept long hours tonight, Jace Granger had done so, as well. Not tit for tat, but because he was demonstrating a strong desire to move his company forward and was committed to doing so.
She turned at the familiar knock on the door. “Come in.”
Kent, who worked for her company as a troubleshooter, rolled in. A veteran of the Iraq war, Kent had been left paralyzed in both legs by the shrapnel from a missile blast. He didn’t let being wheelchair-bound stop him, and she found his tenacity and determination to succeed in spite of his injury truly admirable. Accepting his disability as a bump you could get in your life and not a death sentence, he was good at what he did. She considered him a key player in her organization. He worked hard, sometimes too hard, and Shana often had to conspire with Kent’s wife, Marsha, to slow him down at times.
“Figured you’d still be here,” he said, his ocean-blue eyes flickering in a smiling glance.
She frowned, or at least she tried to. “I know why I’m here, but why are you here? I gave you and Todd a month off, with pay. You deserved it, so why are you here working at this hour?”
He chuckled and pushed a lock of blond hair out of his eyes. “You took on another client. So that means we all took on another client. We’re a team, Shana. Besides, I figured I could at least give you the rundown on Granger Aeronautics’ top executives. I loaded the new info into Greta so you can listen to it on the drive home. A hard copy will be ready for download anytime you want.”
She nodded. That was one of the reasons she appreciated her team so much. “Anything interesting?”
“I’ll let you decide.”
She tilted her brow. That meant there was something interesting. “All right.”
Half an hour later, after listening to Kent’s report on the four men who were the top executives under Richard Granger—Titus Freeman, Cal Arrington, Shelton Fields and John Fulmer—Shana realized that Kent was right; there was definitely something interesting. Already, questions were taking root in her head, and whenever that happened, she was pushed to dig deeper. And she would.
Chapter Ten
Jace walked in at seven-thirty the next morning to find Shana sitting at the desk in the office she’d been given, already buried knee-deep in paperwork. He paused in the doorway a second and watched her read various documents. Even the pair of cute glasses perched on her nose did nothing to detract from her attractiveness.
And he couldn’t help noticing a few other things, like how smooth and creamy-looking her skin appeared to be and that instead of being tinted with lipstick, her lips appeared shiny with gloss. The strands of her hair were a lustrous black, and the few loose tendrils would have softened her features had it not been for the way her lips were pursed together. But even with that, she looked good enough to eat—at least as good as the hot bagels in the bag he was carrying.
He felt his gut contract and immediately thought it was way too early to be thinking such things, but then he reconsidered. A beautiful woman could be appreciated at any time and any place. He decided now was the time to let his presence be known. “Good morning.”
She glanced up and smiled. “Good morning, Jace.”
“We said eight o’clock, but I had a feeling you’d be early. I hadn’t counted on this early,” he said, walking in and setting down the bag on her desk. “Fresh, hot bagels from Jennie’s.”
A smile tipping the corners of her lips widened. “Ahh, one of my favorite places. Thanks.”
He had ordered a coffee machine be provided for her, and from the look of things, she’d already had a cup. “I hope this office meets with your approval.”
“It does,” she said, glancing around. “Almost too much. I had to fight to buckle down and get started instead of staring out the window.” Still smiling, she stood up and sighed in satisfaction. “This is such a beautiful view.”
“I think so, too,” he agreed, scanning his gaze over her and knowing they were talking about two different things. She was wearing another conservative business suit. This one navy. And, like the brown one, it was meant to make a conservative statement, definitely professional. It did, but he was capable of seeing beyond all that. He could imagine her in a halter top with her firm breasts barely contained and a pair of khaki shorts that showed off her gorgeous legs. He wasn’t sure why that image was stamped in his mind, but it was.
“What time is the meeting this morning?” she asked, cutting into his thoughts.
Since he’d agreed it was best that she work on the premises, she suggested that a meeting with his executive team and department heads was the best way to let them know why she was here. It was best to get it out in the open instead of having them speculate. He had agreed. “Around ten. My administrative assistant sent an email out yesterday afternoon.”
“She seems like a nice lady.”
“Who?”
“Your administrative assistant, Melissa Swanson.”
“Yes, and she appears rather efficient. The woman who worked for my grandfather and then for my father for thirty-plus years retired a couple of years ago. That’s when he hired Melissa. I understand she was promoted from a clerical position downstairs.”
He glanced down at her desk. “I see you’re busy already.”
“Yes. I hope to have my first report to you in a week. It will be a preliminary one, but one I feel would be the first step to get Granger back on track.” She paused a minute and then said, “But first, I believe I need to address something,” she said, walking from behind her desk. She strode to the door.
He could tell from her expression that whatever she had to say was serious. But that did nothing to deter him from catching her scent as it floated through the air, or the male appreciation he couldn’t fight as he watched her movements, a natural sway of her hips with every step she took. Inhaling a deep breath, he couldn’t recall when he appreciated a pair of feminine legs more.
After closing the door, she turned on her three-inch heels and walked back to him. She had removed the glasses, and he quickly concluded her eyes were even prettier today. In fact, he thought all of her features were more beautiful. That magnetic pull he’d felt yesterday was back and in full force.
>
“I believe we need to have a little talk, Jace,” she said, coming to a stop in front of him.
His arched brow rose inquiringly. “What about?”
“Your libido and my hormones.”
At his surprised look, she shook her head. “Don’t look so shocked that I would bring such a thing up, Jace. Normally I wouldn’t, but those two things seem to be working overtime with us and have no place here in the office. And since I have a policy never to get personally involved with my clients, they don’t have a place anywhere.”
Jace figured she couldn’t state things any clearer than that. There was no need to play dumb, since he was well aware of the attraction between them. But Jace hadn’t realized that Shana had been as aware of the pull between them as he was. And he definitely hadn’t expected her to address it. At least now he knew the attraction was mutual. He also knew it was something they needed to work on curtailing since it wouldn’t be going anywhere.
“Do I make myself clear, Jace?” she asked with that serious look back on her face.
He nodded slowly. “Very clear. And I promise to try keeping my libido in line.”
Lord, she hoped so, Shana thought, feeling more relaxed and letting out a relieved breath. And she would try to do her part, as well. In fact, she needed to do more than try, because anything otherwise wasn’t an option. But it wouldn’t be easy. No man had a right to look so doggone handsome that early in the morning. In the business suit he was wearing, he exuded power and displayed a male physique that actually made her mouth water.
First, she had glanced up to see him standing there, his tall, well-built, nicely proportioned body leaning against the doorjamb. And then he had moved closer to her desk, and she couldn’t help but appreciate such an impressive pair of broad shoulders and a well-muscled chest. And he walked with an easy grace and style lined with an air of confidence that she found commanding.
She’d known she’d be in trouble if she didn’t address what could become an issue. They were adults, but more importantly, they were professionals. And now that her concerns were out there, together they would deal with them in a way that was satisfactory to both. No need for pretending.
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